Toward the end of November, the rush to prepare for Thanksgiving begins. The isles in the grocery stores become vacant and the atmosphere changes into a panic of anxiety. The traditional Thanksgiving celebration is a turkey around a formally set dinner table full of family. Views on what Thanksgiving means varies from person to person. Special traditions are passed down from generation to generation.

Thanksgiving started as a feast by pilgrims and Indians celebrating the first good harvest in 1621. By now, many people know the history of Thanksgiving but they also have their own reasons of being thankful. In a society where entertainment is everything, one might give the impassive answer of being thankful for a new video game just released or the new movie on its way into the box office but there’s a lot more to take into account. People say they’re thankful for their family but they never really reflect too deeply into what family.

Brianna Knopf said, “the chance of life and family that care for me.”

Another major part of Thanksgiving is the feast. Many families have a delightful turkey in the center but everything else can be different. Some dishes, other than the turkey, can be traditional.

For example, Cheyenne Jackson said, “ every year my grandma makes pink stuff with jello and we all eat it.”

Along with dishes being passed down from generations every Thanksgiving, there can be other things passed down. Maybe it’s having the family gather around the television to watch the Thanksgiving specials, or maybe it’s busting out a game before the meal.

“ We always play football before Thanksgiving dinner, ” said Noah Lockhart.

Though traditions vary, there’s still one thing that many people have in common and that’s the significance of family.